Allen



(No Model.)

A. C. SMITH.

HORSE TAIL HOLDER.

No. 277,431'. Patented May 8,1883.

F/E. l. F15. q.

INVENTUH.

wf/fw am M N. PETERS, Phowmhographer. wuhmgmn D. C.

v UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea.

ALLEN O. SMITH, OF OANAAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VAN RENSSELAERPOWELL, OF TROY, NEV YORK.

HORSE-TAI L HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,431, dated May 8,1883.

Application tiled February 13, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, ALLEN C. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing in the town of Canaan, in the county ofColumbia and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Horse-Tail Holders, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

1o The general object of this invention is .to

produce a very simple, effective, and quicklyapplied device in the forniof a band for holding together in nice form the hair on a horses tailwhen the hair is folded up out of the way 15 of being spattered by mud.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l. and 2 represent two of myimproved horsetail holders, each of which embodies all the essentialfeatures and parts of my invention. Figs.

2c 3, 4, and 5 represent three horse-tail holders, each of whichembraces one or more of the parts of the same invention. Fig. 6represents one ot' my improved devices around a crosssection of thefolded-up hair on the tail of a 25 horse.

In the lseveral figures similar parts are marked by like letters.

In the devices represented, A is a part which is nearly in the form of asemicircular bow or 3o band, and has secured toits ends straps B B',

furnished with a buckle, C, whereby the device can be tightly fastenedabout the folded hair on the tail of a horse.

Vlo use either of the devices shownthe hair 3 5 on a horsels tail issimply folded up by commencing at its end, making the first fold aboutfour or five inches in length, and continuing the folding upon the underside of the tail until the fold is about four or tive inches on 4o thestump, and so that the hairs growing on the top and upper side parts ofthe tail shall extend from their roots directly to, over, and along theupper half partof the fold. Then the concave side of the bow A of theholder 45 is placed on the top ot' tbe middle part ofthe folded hairZ,Fig. 6,and the strap B is passed under the fold and buckled totheother strap, B', tightly about the fold.

To cause the holder to strongly adhere to 5o the hairs that extend fromtheir roots directly along the top and upper side parts of the fold,

I make the inner surface ofthe part A of the holder with a series ofinwardly-tapering ribs or projections, d, and intervening taperinggrooves or recesses, e, so that by tightening 5 the holder upon andaround the folded hair the hairs that extend from their roots directlyalong the top and side parts of the fold will be forced, crowded,andwedged into the series of tapering grooves or recesses e, as indica-ted6 in Fig. 6, so as to thereby greatly lessen the liability of the holderto become slipped down on the horses tail. As regards this feature of myinvention the part A, or its inner portion, may consist of a crimped orcorrugated strip 6 of sheet metal, j, as indicated in Figs. 4t or 5, orof other suitable material or materials.

To increase the adhesion to the hair ot' the part A, and to prevent allliability of the hair being cut or injuriously scraped by the inner 7surface of that part of the holder,I commonly make the part A, or itsinner surface portion, of a somewhat soft and elastic materialas leatheror vulcanized india-rubber-substantially as indicated in Figs. l, 2, 3,or 6.

In Fig. 3 the part A is, represented as consisting wholly of atransverselygrooved strip of moderatelystift' leather or vulcanizedindia-` rubber.

Toincreasetheniceappearauceof theholder, 8 facilitate its application tothe fold of hair'on a horses tail, and cause the inner surface ot' thepart Ato adhere strongly to the hair without liability of injuring it, Icommonly prefer to have the outer portion of the part A consist of astrip, g, of somewhat bendable and elastic sheet metal, in a permanentbow shape of nearly a semicircular form, and to line the same with astrip, h, of moderately soft and elastic materialsuch as leather, or,prefera- 9 bly, vulcanized india-rubber-substantially as indicated inFig. l, 2, or 6,and to rivet or otherwise securel flexible straps B B,ofleather or equivalent material, vto the ends of the part A, andfurnish the straps with a buckle, O, or 9 its equivalent fasteningdevice.

A horse-tail holder has been made in the form of aconcave strip, havingat its ends straps furnished with a buckle, and having two long` pins orthin parts extending inwardly 1 from such concave part for insertioninto or through the folded hair, but not having the inner surfaceportion of such concave partformed with a series of taperinggrooves orrecesses, nor composed of vulcanized indiarubber.'

W'hat I claim as my invention is 1.' A horse-tail holder having on itsinner surface a series of tapering grooves or recesses7 3. A horse-tailholder composed of a curved strip, g, of metal, having a grooved orrecessed I 5 1inin'g, h, of somewhat soft and elastic material, and atits ends straps furnished with a fastening device, substantiall5T asdescribed.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto set myhand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, zo this 10th dayof February, 1883.

ALLEN C. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JACOB L. ROWE, AUSTIN F. PARK.

